This brain drain is a big hurdle for creating a corps of world-class math wizards in China.

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For Maria, that meant writing up a proposal for an accelerated math class, roping in 31 other students to take part, and then literally begging the principal to find the funding.

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Wrapped in a smart carry case, the students carry their iPads with them into math class, science, and art and the teachers download the appropriate apps that allow the kids to draw on the touch screen, look at graphs, or go online.

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She says that about a third of the newest class studied business in school, and the rest majored in subjects including math, nursing and economics.

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If your math teacher talked like a coach, that person would be in huge, huge trouble, even if it did make math class much more entertaining.

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